Finger and toe exercising band

ABSTRACT

The present invention is directed to a finger or toe exercising device. The finger or toe exercising band comprises a continuous band with no twists with a center bond that may partition the continuous band with no twists into a left loop and a right loop. The left loop and the right loop may be of equal size. The continuous band with no twists may be made of an elastic material and may be operable to exercise fingers and toes. As a non-limiting example, a left big toe may be placed within the left loop, a right big toe may be placed within the right loop, and the left big toe may be pulled away from the right big toe to provide resistance training for the toes. Other toes, fingers, and combinations thereof may be exercised in the same way.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to exercise devices. More particularly, it relates to an exercise band that is configured for use with fingers and toes.

BACKGROUND

The fitness industry is one of the largest consumer sectors and has continued to show tremendous growth over the past few decades. As such, there currently exists thousands of options for equipment and devices which are designed to help consumers achieve better health. While many advancements have been made to equipment typically provided at health clubs or other fitness-related businesses, the home fitness industry has expanded tremendously as well due to the fact that consumers live very busy lives and do not always have the time or resources to seek other options. The devices often sought after for home use may include anything from simple floor mats designed for stretching routines to large and more complicated home gym systems, which require extensive set up and often cost thousands of dollars.

The home health and fitness sector includes many subsectors ranging from general health options to many more specific options. Some individuals practice advanced fitness routines configured to seek optimal athletic performance, while others remain focused on rehabilitation concerns. Today, millions of people suffer from physical ailments or injuries that stem from a wide variety of causes. The options for treating such ailments are wide ranging and very specific at times. While some suffer from general and localized pain such as lower back issues, others experience acute pain in many areas of their body. An example of this may be finger and toe pains that result from everyday routines or perhaps sports-related injuries.

When it comes to injured fingers or toes, there exists a relative shortage in terms of home treatments and pain relief options. For many individuals, pain relief may be hard to come by as only manual manipulations or massages may provide sufficient comfort. In fact, most hip problems start with the big toe. Once injury to the big toe has been sustained, one's gait becomes compromised as pressure is taken off the big toe and applied elsewhere, such as other toes, knee, and ankle. Accordingly, there exists a need for a means by which those suffering from big toe pain and pain in the finger area can be provided. In light of the foregoing, it would be desirable for a device that provides relief and comfort to the fingers and toes in a simple, inexpensive, and easy to use form factor.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a finger and toe exercising band 100, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of a finger and toe exercising band 100, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a front view of a finger and toe exercising band 100, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an in-use view of a finger and toe exercising band 100, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a finger and toe exercising band 100, according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a top view of a finger and toe exercising band 100, according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a front view of a finger and toe exercising band 100, according to a second embodiment of the present invention; and,

FIG. 8 is an in-use view of a finger and toe exercising band 100, according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTIVE KEY

-   -   100 finger and toe exercising device     -   200 continuous band with no twists     -   202 center bond     -   204 left loop     -   206 right loop     -   210 band width     -   212 band thickness     -   214 flat first surface     -   216 flat second surface     -   912 left big toe     -   922 right big toe

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In FIG. 1 , the present invention is directed to a finger or toe exercising device 100. In FIG. 2 , the device 100 comprises an elastic tape member with constant width and constant thickness having a flat first surface and a flat second surface constructed to form a continuous band with no twists 200 with a center bond (midpoint) 202 that may partition the continuous band with no twists 200 into a left loop 204 and a right loop 206. In FIG. 3 , the left loop 204 and the right loop 206 may be of approximately equal size and constructed to slip over a left human digit and a corresponding right human digit respectively. An exercise may be performed by placing the left and right loops over two corresponding human digits and moving the left and right human digits apart. The continuous band with no twists 200 may be made of an elastic material and may be operable to exercise fingers and toes. As a non-limiting example, a left big toe 912 (left human digit) may be placed within the left loop 204, a right big toe 922 (right human digit) may be placed within the right loop 206, and the left big toe 912 may be pulled away from the right big toe 922 to provide resistance training for the toes. Other toes, fingers, and combinations thereof may be exercised in the same way.

The continuous band with no twists 200 may be a flexible elastic band shaped to form a hollow cylinder. As non-limiting examples, the continuous band with no twists 200 may be formed by pinching together and connecting the flat first surface 214 to the flat second surface 216 at an approximate midpoint to form a left loop 204 and a right loop 206, the left and right loops being of approximately equal size or the continuous band with no twists 200 may be formed in one (1) step, such as by molding the entire band at one time. Also, the continuous band may be formed by connecting a linear piece of elastic pate end-to-end with no twists. The continuous band may also be formed by slicing an end-section from a hollow cylindrical tube of elastic material. A flat first surface 214 of the continuous band with no twists 200 may then be bonded to a flat second surface 216 of the continuous band with no twists 200 at the center bond 202 to form a two (2) equal size loops. As non-limiting examples, the center bond 202 may be formed by sewing a seam, by thermal bonding, by applying an adhesive between the flat first surface 214 and the flat second surface 216, or by stapling.

The two (2) equal size loops may comprise the left loop 204 and the right loop 206. The left loop 204 and the right loop 206 may be pulled in opposite directions as a form of resistance training.

An elasticity attribute of the continuous band with no twists 200 may determine what amount of external force is required to deform the continuous band with no twists 200 and thus stretch the left loop 204 and the right loop 206. The external force required to deform the continuous band with no twists 200 may be a measurement of resistance that a user may experience while using the device 100. The elasticity attribute may be determined by several factors. As non-limiting examples, the elasticity attribute of the continuous band with no twists 200 may be determined by the choice of a material, by a band width 210 of the continuous band with no twists 200, and by a band thickness 212 of the continuous band with no twists 200.

The material comprising the continuous band with no twists 200 may be flexible and elastic. The material may stretch when the external force is applied and the material may contract when the external force is removed. The amount of deformation of the continuous band with no twists 200 (i.e., the amount of stretching) may be proportional to the magnitude of the external force that is applied. As non-limiting examples, the material may be natural or synthetic rubber, elastic polymers, elastic copolymers, or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the material may be elastic at least in part due to a weave comprising elastic fibers.

Increasing the band width 210 of the continuous band with no twists 200 may increase the magnitude of the external force that is required to deform the continuous band with no twists 200 and decreasing the band width 210 may decrease the magnitude of the external force that is required to deform the continuous band with no twists 200. Likewise, increasing the band thickness 212 of the continuous band with no twists 200 may increase the external force requirement and decreasing the band thickness 212 may decrease the external force requirement. For a given choice of the material, the band width 210 and the band thickness 212 may be selected to produce a desired amount of resistance.

In the figures, FIG. 1 , FIG. 2 , FIG. 3 , and FIG. 4 illustrate a first embodiment of the device 100 having a first band width and FIG. 5 , FIG. 6 , FIG. 7 , and FIG. 8 illustrate a second embodiment of the device 100 having a second band width. If the two (2) embodiments are made from the same material and if the band thickness 212 is the same for both, then the second embodiment may require a larger external force to be applied to create the same amount of deformation.

In a preferred embodiment, the device 100 may be a family of the continuous band with no twists 200 each having different dimensions, different sizes, different resistances, different constant thicknesses, different constant widths, and/or different elastic strengths. The continuous band with no twists 200 may be made available separately or as a collection having multiple dimensions and/or resistances that are distributed together. In some embodiments, each of the continuous band with no twists 200 may be marked with indicia that state the dimensions and/or resistance of the continuous band with no twists 200.

The following are non-limiting examples of some techniques and methods of exercising with the continuous band with no twists 200 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 8 .

-   -   With both feet flat against a flat surface (e.g. floor),         parallel to each other, and separated from each other; place the         left loop 204 around the left big toe 912 and place the right         loop 206 around the right big toe 922. Pull the feet apart until         the slack is removed from the continuous band with no twists         200. Then:         -   Pull the feet apart laterally, placing tension on the big             toes, release the tension, and repeat; or,         -   Rotate both feet with the heels remaining stationary and the             toes of each foot moving away from the toes of the other             foot to create tension on the big toes, release the tension,             and repeat.     -   Same as above except use any toe other than the big toe on the         left foot and the corresponding toe on the right foot. Repeat         for other toes.     -   With palms of both hands facing downwards and the hands next to         each other and separated; loop the left loop 204 around a left         thumb and the right loop 206 around a right thumb. Pull the         hands apart laterally, placing tension on the thumbs, release         the tension, and repeat.     -   Same as above except loop use any finger other than the thumb on         the left hand and the corresponding finger on the right hand.         Repeat for other fingers.     -   With the hands parallel to each other, separated, and palm         facing palm; loop the left loop 204 around any finger of the         left hand and loop the right loop 206 around corresponding         finger on the right hand. Pull the hands apart laterally to         create tension, release the tension, and repeat. Repeat for         other fingers.     -   With hands separated, palms of both hands facing down, and one         hand above the other; loop the left loop 204 around any finger         of the left hand and loop the right loop 206 around         corresponding finger on the right hand. Pull the hands apart         vertically to create tension, release the tension, and repeat.         Repeat for other fingers. Repeat with hands swapped vertically.     -   With the left foot flat against a flat surface and the left hand         above the left foot with palm facing up; loop the left loop 204         around any toe of the left foot, loop the right loop 206 around         any finger of the left hand. Pull the hand up to create tension,         release the tension, and repeat. Repeat for other fingers and         toes on the left foot and the left hand. Repeat for the right         foot and the right hand.

The exact specifications, materials used, and method of use of the device 100 may vary upon manufacturing. The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. 

1. A finger or toe exercising device comprising: an elastic tape member with constant width and constant thickness having a flat first surface and a flat second surface constructed to form a continuous band with no twists; the continuous band pinched together and connecting flat first surface to flat second surface at an approximate midpoint to form a left loop and a right loop, the left and right loops being of approximately equal size; the left loop and the right loop being constructed and sized to slip over a left human digit and a corresponding right human digit respectively; whereby, an exercise may be performed by placing the left and right loops over two corresponding human digits and moving the left and right human digits apart.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the left and right human digits are toes.
 3. The device of claim 1, wherein the left and right human digits are fingers.
 4. The device of claim 1, wherein the continuous band is formed by connecting a linear piece of elastic tape end-to-end with no twists.
 5. The device of claim 4, wherein the connecting is made by sewing, adhesive, or thermal bonding.
 6. The device of claim 1, wherein the continuous band is made by slicing an end-section from a hollow cylindrical tube of elastic material.
 7. The device of claim 1, further comprising a family of similar elastic tape members fashioned to different sizes and with different elastic strengths.
 8. The device of claim 7, wherein different members of the family may have different constant thicknesses of different constant widths.
 9. The device of claim 8, wherein different members of the family are marked with indicia indicating dimensions or elastic resistance.
 10. A finger or toe exercising device comprising: an elastic tape member with constant width and constant thickness having a flat first surface and a flat second surface constructed to form a continuous band with no twists, wherein the continuous band is formed by connecting a linear piece of elastic tape end-to-end with no twists. the continuous band pinched together and connected first surface to first surface at an approximate midpoint to form a left loop and a right loop, the left and right loops being of approximately equal size; the left loop and the right loop being constructed and sized to slip over a left human finger or toe and a corresponding right human finger or toe whereby, an exercise may be performed by placing the left and right loops over two corresponding human fingers or toes and moving the left and right human fingers or toes apart.
 11. The device of claim 10, wherein the connecting is made by sewing, adhesive, or thermal bonding.
 12. The device of claim 10, further comprising a family of similar elastic tape members fashioned to different sizes and with different elastic strengths.
 13. The device of claim 12, wherein different members of the family may have different constant thicknesses of different constant widths.
 14. The device of claim 13, wherein different members of the family are marked with indicia indicating dimensions or elastic resistance.
 15. A method of exercising with the device of claim 10 comprising: (a) with both feet flat against a flat surface, placing the left loop around the left big toe, and placing the right loop against the right big toe, then: (b) pulling the feet apart; (c) rotating both feet with heels remaining stationary, and big toes of each foot moving away from big toes of the other foot.
 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising repeating steps (a)-(c) using other corresponding toes.
 17. The method of claim 15, repeating steps (a)-(b) using thumbs instead of toes.
 18. The method of claim 17, using other corresponding fingers.
 19. The method of claim 15, further comprising: (d) with the left foot against a flat surface, and the left hand with palm facing up, placing the left loop around any toe on the left foot and the right loop around any finger of the left hand; (e) pulling the left hand up to create tension.
 20. The method of claim 19, repeating steps (d)-(e) using the right foot and the right hand. 